Safety latch control handle



Jllly 23, 1957 M. s. KEELER u 2,800,350

SAFETY LATCH CONTROL HANDLE Filed Aug. 9, 1956 Y zalm.. n 'a l SAFETYLAT CH CONTROL HANDLE Miner S. Keeler' Il, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignerto Keeler Brass Company, Grand Rapids, h ich.

Application August 9, 1956, Serial No. 602,995

7 Claims. (Cl. 292-3363;)

This invention relates to a safety latch control or operating handleadapated for use on the inner side of an automobile door or the like andquite generally designated by the automotive industry as the remotecontrol handle.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a safety remote control handle which may beselectively adjusted to a normal free operating position or to a lockedposition and when in such position is diicult, if not impossible, to beoperated by a child and at the same time when in unlocked position canbe manipulated in the same manner as the now widely used types of latchcontrol handles.

Second, to provide a control handle for latches having the aboveadvantages which may be very economically produced and installed andassociated with the types of latch, the control parts of which are nowin extensive use.

Third, to provide a latch control handle having these advantages whichmay be greatly varied in ornamental design to harmonize with otherhardware or inish of a motor vehicle.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appearfrom the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed outin the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary inside view of a motor vehicle body and doorthereof, mainly conventionally shown, and with the latch control handleof my invention in operative relation to control parts indicated bydotted lines, the handle being shown in latch operating position bydotted lines.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in section on a linecorresponding to line 2 2 of Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the position permittingadjustment to locked position being indicated by dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary inside view of the handle proper.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in section on a line corresponding to line4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on a line corresponding to line5-5 of Fig. 4.

It is a matter of common knowledge that a considerable number ofchildren have been injured and even some children killed as a result oftheir opening the door of an automobile.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a control handle forlatches which may be adjusted to a locked position and when in thatposition it is very diicult for a child to operate to disengage thelatch.

In the accompanying drawing 1 represents a Vehicle body, 2 a doorthereof viewed from the inside. The latch is conventionally indicated at3 by dotted lines and the remote control rod therefor is indicated at 4,see also Fig. 2. 5 indicates the crank of a Window operating mechanismwhich, however, forms no part of this invention. 6 represents the innerpanel of the door.

The control rod 4 is eccentrically connected to the actuated member 7,quite generally called an adaptor, by

tent 0 means of the coupling member 8 of the adaptor. The details ofthis connection are not illustrated and may desirably be of widely usedtypes. The actuated member 7 has an axial bore 9 opening inwardly toreceive the stern 10 of the coupling member 8, the stem being secured bymeans of the pin 11. The actuated member is provided with diametricallyopposed radial recesses'12 and 13 with which the lug 14 and the combinedbolt and stop element 15 of the handle 16 are releasably engaged.

The actuated member has a reduced portion 17 rotatable in the hole 18provided therefor in the panel 16. It is further rotatably supported bythe bearing 19 provided therefor in the inwardly projecting flange 20 ofthe bezel 21 which is iixedly secured to the panel by the screws 22.

The ilange 20 is provided with a keeper recess 23 with which the lockelement 15 of the handle may be engaged. It is also provided with asegmental recess 24 in which the lock element 15 may be disposed forlimited oscillating movement, the ends of the recess 2S constitutingstops limiting the oscillating movement of the handle. The handle isretained upon the actuated member permitting such oscillation and alsoaxial movement of the handle as is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

In the embodiment illustrated the handle is provided with an outwardlyfacing bore-like chamber or recess 26 which has an inwardly projectingflange 27 constituting a seat for the coil spring 23. The outer end ofthe spring is in thrust supported engagement with the head 29 of a screw30 tapped into the outer end of the actuated member. Thus arranged thespring acts to yieldingly urge the handle member inwardly whilepermitting its outward axial movement suiiciently to disengage the lug14 and the lock element 15 from the keeper recess 23 and the segmentalrecess 24 allowing the handle to be rotated while supportedly resting onthe iiange of the bezel until the lock element aligns with the keeperrecess 23 and is engaged therewith by the thrust of the spring 28. Whenin this locked position the handle cannot be rotated or actuated todisengage the latch. However, when the handle is in the positionillustrated in full lines in the drawing shown in Figs. 2 and 4, thehandle may be operated in a manner that is common in remote latchcontrol handles.

The handle cannot be released from locked position without an axial pullon the handle suiiicient to disengage the bolt element from the keeperand then while so disengaged rotating the handle to bring the lockelement out of alignment with the keeper and it would be ditlicult andextremely unlikely for a child under the age of discretion to do that.However, when the latch control is adjusted to latch operating positionit may be manipulated in the well understood manner to release thelatch. The handle grip 31 may be of any desired design to harmonize withother hardware.

As stated, I have not illustrated the details of the latch as my devicemay be installed or operatively associated with various latches now veryextensively used in the automotive vehicle'industry. Such latches are ofthe type which engage automatically when the door is closed and may bereleased from the inside of the door by a remote control handle.

I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments oradaptations of my invention as it is believed this disclosure willenable those skilled in the art to embody oradapt the invention as maybe desired.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and isdesired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A control handle for latches and the like comprising a rotatableactuated member having diametrically opposed laterally opening recesses,a handle associated with said actuated member for axial movementrelative thereto and having diametrically disposed lugs engaged withsaid recesses in said actuated member, one of said 3 lugs being of aradial width exceeding that of the depth of the recesses andconstituting a bolt and stop element, said handle having an outwardlyopening recess aligned with said actuated member, said handle recesshaving an internal flange, a coily spring seated-ontsaidiiange, a thrustmember carriedI by said-actuated member nfor: supporting the outer endof said spring whereby -the springl acts .toyieldingly urge the handleto actuated member-engaging position, and a relatively iixed bezelhavingA an inturned flange through which said actuated member projects,said bezel flange having a keeper recesswith which said bolt element maybe engaged'when aligned-therewith and also having a segmental recessspaced angularly -relative to said keeper recess and` adapted toreceivesaidi bolt element when the handle is adjusted to-unlockedposition, the ends ,of said second' recess constituting'stops limitingthe oscillating movement of the lhandle and of the lactuated member.

2. A control handle for latches and the like comprising a rotatableVactuated member having diametrically opposedv laterally openingVrecesses, a handle associated with said .actuated member for axialmovement relative thereto and having .diametrically disposed lugsengaged with said recesses in said actuatedmember, one of said lugsbeing of a radial width exceeding that of the depth of the recesses andconstituting abolt and stop element, spring means acting `to releasablyhold said handle in engagement with said actuated member, and arelatively iixed bezel having an inturned flange through which saidactuated member projects, said bezel flange having a keeper recess withwhich said bolt element may be engaged when aligned therewith and alsohaving a segmental recess and adapted to receive saidbolt element whenthe handle is adjusted to unlocked position, the

ends of said second recess constituting stops limiting the oscillatingmovement of the handle and of the actuated member.

3. A control handle for latches and the like comprising a rotatableactuated member having a laterally opening recess therein, a handleassociated with said actuated member for axial movement relative theretoand having a bolt and stop element engaged with said recess andprojecting therefrom, a relatively iixed bezel having a keeper withwhich said bolt element may be engaged when aligned therewith and alsoangularly spaced stops angularly spaced relative to said keeper andadapted to receive saidV bolt element between them when lthe handle isadjusted to unlocked position, said handle ybeing, cham-V recesstherein, a handle associated with said. actuated' member for axialmovement relative thereto and'having a bolt and stop element engagedwith said recess andprcjecting therefrom, a relatively iixed bezelhaving a keeper withwhich saidl bolt element may be engaged when alignedtherewith and also angularlyspacedstops' defining a segmental openingbetween the stops with the opening angularly spaced relative to. saidkeeper and adapted to receive said bolt element betweenl them when thehandle is adjusted to unlocked'position, and'spring means acting to urgesaidhandle axially inwardlyand releasably engage said bolt element-withsaid keeper when the handle is positioned to align the bolt therewithand to releasably position said bolt element between and in coactingrelation to said angularly spaced stops when the handle is rotated toalign the bolt element with the opening in the bezel between said stops.

5. A control handle for latches and the like comprising a rotatableactuated member, a handle associated with said actuated member foraxialmovement relative thereto and having a bolt and stop elementslidably engaged with said actuated member and projecting radiallytherefrom, a relatively fixed bezel having a keeper with which said boltelement may be engaged when aligned therewith to lock the handle againstrotative movement while so engaged and also having angularly spacedstops spaced angularly relative to said keeper and adapted to receivesaid bolt element between them when the handle is adjusted to unlockedposition, said handle having a spring supporting seat, a coil springdisposed on said seat, and a thrust member carried by 'said actuatedmember supportedly engaging the outer end of said spring whereby thespring acts to yieldingly urge the-handle inwardly.

6. A control handle for latches and the like comprising a rotatableactuated member, a handle associatedwith said actuated member for' axialmovement relative thereto and having a boltl and stop element slidablyengaged with said actuated member and projectingradially therefrom, arelatively fixed bezel having a keeper with which said bolt element maybe engaged when aligned therewith to lock the handle against rotativemovement while so engaged and also having angularly spaced stopsdefining a segmental opening between the stops with the opening spacedangularly relative to said keeper and adapted to receive said boltelement between them when the handle is adjusted to unlocked position,and spring means acting t0 urge said handle axially inwardly andreleasably engage said bolt element with said keeper when the handle ispositioned to align the bolt therewith and to releasably position saidbolt element between and in coactingrelation to said angularly spacedstops when the handle is rotated'to align the bolt element with theopening inthe bezel between said stops.

7. A control handle for latches andthe like comprising a rotatableactuated member, a handle associated with said actuated member for axialmovement relative thereto and having a bolt and stop element slidablyengaged with said actuated member and projecting radially therefrom, avkeeper fixed relative to said actuated member with which said.boltelement may be engaged when aligned l therewith, spaced stops fixedrelative to said actuated member and defining a segmental space spacedrelative to said keeper and adapted to receive said bolt element betweenthem when the handle is adjusted to unlocked position, and spring meansactingto urge said handle axially inwardly and releasably engage saidboltelement with said keeper when the handle is positioned to align thebolt therewith and to releasably position said bolt element vbetween andin coacting relation to said angularly spaced stops when the handle isrotated to align the bolt element with the opening between said' stops.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSV1,776,881 Birdsall Sept; 30, 1930 2,046,342 Muck'et al. July 7, 1936'2,219,626 Johnson Oct. 29, 1940 2,298,559 Fredholm Oct. 13,V 19422,742,314 Santos Apr. 16, 1956

